“I left Barca because Xavi didn’t believe in me” – Braithwaite

Martin Braithwaite has expressed his displeasure at how he was treated by the club during his stint at Barcelona and has blamed Xavi for his departure.

The Spanish giants were desperate to get him off their wage bill due to their financial constraints but Braithwaite was adamant, insisting on being paid his wages in full for the remainder of his contract which was to expire in 2024.

The 31-year-old was ostracised by Xavi and left out of the matchday squad for the first three LaLiga games of this season, having only played 10 minutes of league football in 2022.

However, on deadline day, an agreement was eventually reached to terminate Braithwaite’s contract. He then joined city rivals Espanyol on a three-year contract.

Speaking to Danish paper Ekstra Bladet the Denmark international hit out at Barcelona for forcing him out of the club.

“Did I take it as bullying, I actually don’t know,” Braithwaite said. “But I think it’s important that you always think about other people’s mental health.

“That’s the way it is. I know how things work in this world. Unfortunately, football is also a business.”

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Despite his struggles in a Barcelona shirt, Braithwaite believes he was able to prove his critics wrong and hit out at Xavi who he said never believed in him.

“In many ways, I can only smile a little at all the things that have taken place behind the scenes,” he added. “I think I have disproved many critics. I was top scorer last season before I got injured.

“But then there was a change of coach, he wanted something else, and that is part of football life.

“Xavi didn’t believe in my abilities, so I had to leave. I had known for a long time that the coach did not believe in me and that I had to move on from Barcelona.”

Since leaving Barcelona, Braithwaite seems to be enjoying his football again at Espanyol. The striker has scored two goals in his three appearances for the club.

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